Hummocks Trail and Boundary West Trail - Mount St. Helens, WA

May 9, 2016

Hike of the week recommended by WTA. I decided to head out to hike Hummocks trail combined with Boundary West. The weather was perfect...sunny and not too warm as there was a light breeze.

This is a wonderful hike for all ages, particularly Hummocks Trail. It offers fantastic views of Mount St. Helens with educational and interesting information about the geology and history of Mount St. Helens since the volcanic eruption in 1980. It is amazing you can actually hike along the area where the landscape and ecology were devastated by the eruption and it's been reforming by nature's own will and cycle ever since. I learned so much of the area's landscape geology through the hike.

From the trailhead, I followed Hummocks Trail and at the trail junction I continued on to Boundary Trail heading east. The trail is in good shape and easy to trek with gentle ups and downs. After about a mile in, it begins to climb steeply in switchbacks....be ready to get your heart rate going!
As you keep gaining elevations, the views of the valley down below and Mount St. Helens get better and better. Seeing a remnant of the past all along the trail, you could only imagine the catastrophic force of the eruption which wiped out the area 36 years ago.

I stopped the hike before reaching Loowit Viewpoint because I was running out of time after 7pm. So, I enjoyed the spectacular views of Mount St. Helens and the valley down below on the way and turned around to head back to the trailhead. I returned to my car a little after 8pm. Interestingly, I saw a cougar crossing the highway soon after I drove out of the trailhead parking lot. It looked like a little over 2 ft long and had a dark brown fur.

Wildflowers are just starting to bloom....paintbrush, lupine, phlox, foxglove and so on. They will get into full swing very soon if weather cooperates. The road to Johnston Ridge Observatory is still closed at Coldwater Lake, but it is scheduled to open this weekend/May 14. I would like to go back to hike and explore again....perhaps, hike around the observatory and Spirit Lake area next time.

Sheep Lake and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Section I.1 - White Pass - Chinook Pass, Mt. Rainier, WA

This is a lovely hike with a great view of mountains and wildflowers all long the trail. Trailhead (PCT trailhead) is easy access right along HWY 410/Chinook Pass. The trail toward Sheep Lake is at the end of the parking lot behind the restrooms. The short hike leads you on along stunning vistas of the deep opening valley of Chinook Pass. The hike to the lake is about 2 miles with a gentle grade. 

The lake and lush meadows are peacefully tucked in surrounded by mountains. I saw meadows carpeted with blue lupines all over and a touch of red paintbrush for an accent. What a beauty! 

As I had a little extra time when I returned to trailhead after the short hike to Sheep Lake, I decided to make a quick side trip via PCT/Chinook Pass - White Pass. The section of PCT begins at Naches Peak loop trailhead just across the bridge of Mt. Rainier National Park over the highway (you'll see the bridge in a distance on the way back to the parking lot from Sheep Lake). 

I trekked in/out about 1 mile or so along Naches Peak loop trail as part of PCT. There are wildflower meadows, creeks, and a small lake after the forest about a mile in. I'd love to go back again and explore that section of PCT down toward White Pass.